2023
Neither 30 km/h nor more safety for pedestrians and cyclists: Federal Council stops new traffic law
It's official, Germany is on the road to a traffic law disaster! The Bundesrat has blocked a reform of road traffic law, which had envisaged more 30 km/h zones, play streets and bus and cycle lanes, head-on. The state governments have thus cancelled Transport Minister Wissing's proposal and brought us one step closer to the abyss.
Discrimination against SUV drivers: Paris triples parking fees for heavy cars
It's hard to believe: The city of Paris is planning to triple the parking fees for heavy cars. A targeted attack on SUV drivers, who in future will have to pay 18 euros per hour when they park their vehicle in the French capital. Once again, it is the drivers who are being asked to pay - and this time it is the owners of large cars who are being hit particularly hard.
Electric flop: buses in Oslo break down in the cold
100 million euros in the sand - or snow. That is the sad result of the first onset of winter in Oslo. After the city invested this enormous sum in new electric buses in the spring, they have now simply broken down in the cold. Instead of emission-free local transport, the city has thrown a lot of money down the drain. It remains to be seen what the manufacturer Solaris will now do to avert the debacle.
Berlin is suffocating: Air quality and political failures
Air pollution in Berlin has reached an alarming level. The air quality index (LQI) ranked dangerously high on 6 December 2023. A sad reality that shows us the catastrophic effects of our political decisions. This city, which once wanted to shine with the construction of cycle lanes, many green spaces and pedestrian zones, has taken a different path and is increasingly suffocating in car smog.
A city at a snail's pace: Toulouse 85% 30 km/h!
Drivers in Toulouse must be prepared for drastic changes. Currently, over half of the city's roads are already 30 km/h. Next year, this figure is set to rise to 85%!
The shattered tyre dream: a disaster for the environment and motorists
It was supposed to be a revolution in the car industry, a turning point for the environment and a triumph for all drivers: the airless tyre. But now the tyre dream has been shattered. A bitter setback, not only for the manufacturer Michelin, but also for the environment and us motorists.
The ups and downs of the e-parking policy in Schwandorf: a farce by the authorities?
It's hard to believe, but it's true: in Schwandorf, e-cars have been exempted from parking charges until the end of 2023. A tempting offer that was supposed to encourage many people to switch to the environmentally friendly option. However, this offer has now been abruptly cancelled, despite the rising number of e-cars. A move that raises questions and casts doubt on the credibility of the city council.
Dystopia of the trackless tram: fine dust pollution in the guise of revolutionary local transport
It sounds like the forward-looking answer to urban transport problems: The first trackless tram in Australia. However, if you take a closer look at the facts, it quickly becomes clear that this is not the hoped-for revolution in local transport, but rather harbours a potential environmental problem.
Too many e-cars: Munich must introduce new licence plates
Pure confusion?! Due to the large number of e-cars, the city of Munich is running out of possible licence plate combinations. That's why the administration is now introducing the MUC licence plate. Goodbye beautiful M abbreviation, hello bureaucracy and confusion!
Car-free model fails: Hanover goes back to pure cars
The Green mayor actually wanted to create a true miracle of transport policy. "Car-free" meant "no car too many" in the city. He wanted to reduce lanes, virtually abolish parking spaces in the city centre and focus on walking and cycling. The SPD has now pulled the ripcord and cancelled the coalition with the Greens. They want to focus on "low car use". This seems more like a paraphrase for "continuing the status quo".